11.01.1996

New chapter for France

THE STRIKES in France have for the moment come to an end except in certain areas. In Marseilles, for instance, public transport workers are continuing their action, teachers are reviewing their position and the government is still negotiating.

Prime Minister Juppé is planning to visit Marseilles on January 15, and strikes and demonstrations are proposed for that day.

Overall the Juppé plan has been stopped for the time being. The government has withdrawn its attacks on pension rights for existing workers and agreed to pay workers for some strike days. However it is still determined to push through its general assault on welfare, equivalent to the loss of about 12 days’ pay a year.

Marseilles communist René Barthes told me that the government’s authority and confidence had certainly been weakened. “On the other hand the general retreat and loss of confidence of the working class has been reversed at last.” As Socialist Party supporters have been drawn to the left, there is a whole new firmament of ideas.

“In a sense the death of François Mitterand closes a chapter,” comrade Barthes continued.

“He boasted of serving the bourgeoisie and breaking the communist tradition. Perhaps we are at the beginning of a new wave where the working class can start to fight back. Right now the talk in the unions and workplaces is about how we can relaunch the offensive to stop Juppé’s social service attacks once and for all.”

John Bayliss